Display package



y 1963 J. R. MELL 3,089,590

DISPLAY PACKAGE Filed Sept. 13, 1961 66. 5 INV EN TOR.

JACK Z MLL ATTOF/l/Efs' States Unite This invention relates to a displaypackage or so-called blisteror bubble-type display package in whicharticles are packaged for sale or give a-way.

Blister or bubble-type display packages are not new. Such type packagesgenerally comprise a cardboard or other type base on which the articleor articles are held by transparent plastic containers secured to thecardboard by staples, a bonding agent, or other means. These typepackages serve a very useful function of packaging the articles while atthe same time displaying them, but they have the inherent disadvantageof making it diflicu lt to remove the article. Further, the removal ofthe articles generally ruins the package. Also, heretofore, to myknowledge, no suitable package of the bubble-type has been designed withboth aesthetic and functional qualities.

The present invention is designed to eliminate the disadvantages ofother bubble-type packages and provide a package from which articles canbe easily removed, particularly without ruining the package. Further,this invention provides a package constructed of the minimum number ofcomponents which can be easily assembled. The package of the presentinvention not only has these functional advantages, but the structurethereof inherently gives it an aesthetic appeal.

These and other advantages and objects of my invention will becomeevident from a reading of the following description in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the package of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the package of this invention;

FIG. 3 is aside elevational view of the package of this invention in itsopen position;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the package of this invention; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the plane V-V of FIG. 4.

Briefly, this invention concerns a display package formed of twocomponents, a base and a housing. The base is elongated and has twoattachment portions to which the housing is attached. The housing inplan view is substantially the same shape as the base and it hasattachment portions corresponding to the attachment portions of thebase. As a result, the base and housing are attached only at theseattachment areas between which they are free to separate one from theother. The base and housing are flexible along a dimension extendingbetween the attachment portions permitting a person to bend or flex thecomponents separating the free edges and thus open the package andexpose the articles inside.

Preferably, the base is elongated and has two opposite sides forming anarrow intermediate portion fanning outwardly to wider end portions. Thehousing in plan view has the same shape and includes side wallsdepending downwardly from a top which is tapered from its centralintermediate portion to the ends of the base where it is attached.

For specific deails of this invention reference is made to the drawingswhich disclose the base 1 and housing 2 containing an article 3.

The base 1 is a sheet of material such as metal, plastic, or cardboard,it being essential that such material is flexible. As best shown inFIGS. 1 and 4, the base preferably has two arcuate sides 11 and 12forming a narrow intermediate portion fanning outwardly to wider endpor- Patented May 14, 1963 ice tions 13 and 14 which, as will hedescribed, are attachment portions for the housing 2.

The housing 2 is a cover of plastic, paper, aluminum foil or any othermaterial capable of being formed so as to retain its shape. The covermay be vacuum-formed from a blank, or by folding a blank as desired. Iprefer a transparent plastic material because it is capable ofdisplaying the article contained therein. In plan view (FIG. 4) thehousing 2 is identical in configuration to the base 1. The top 21 ofhousing 2 is arcuate in shape thus having a taller intermediate portiontapering downwardly to the ends where are provided the tabs 22 and 23for attaching the housing to the base. The housing 2 also has side walls24 and 25 depending from the edges 26 and 27 of the top 21; These walls24 and 25 by virtue of shape of top 21 bow inwardly from the ends of thehousing. The lower edges thereof terminate at the sides'll and 12 of thebase but are perfectly free therefrom, which as will be explained underAssembly and Operation, is essential to proper operation.

The article inside the package can take any variety of shapes and forms.I show a cylindrical article such as a vial or tube of lipstick.Although not necessary, I prefer that an article of this type be securedto the base.

Assembly and Operation The assembly and operation of this inventionshould be obvious from the above description. The two components of thepackage are simply assembled together by placing the tabs 22 and 23 overthe end portions 13 and 14. It should be understood however that withinthe broader aspects of this invention any attachment means can beprovided between the end portions of the housing 2 and the base 1. Infact, the base 1 and housing 2 could be integral parts without departingfrom the broad aspects of this invention.

The article to be pack-aged can be inserted into the package afterassembly or secured to the base or within the housing before theassembly. Insertion into the housing after assembly would involve thesame step of opening the package to remove the article or articles,which operation will now be explained.

To open the package one merely applies force to the ends of the packagecausing base 1 to bow downwardly and housing 2 to bow upwardly (FIG. 3).This can be accomplished by squeezing between the thumb and fingers. Inso doing, the article 3 is exposed for easy removal or can be insertedfor packaging. During this operation it is important within the narroweraspects of this invention to realize the important function of theshapes of the base and housing. The narrow intermediate sectiontacilita'tes the ease in flexing and also locates the bend thereat. Moreimportant, however, is the manner in which the side walls, already bowedinwardly by virtue of the shape of the top, are easily flexed inwardlypermitting the entire housing to bow inwardly. Normally, it would beexpected that side walls arranged perpendicular to a surface wouldresist and prevent bending or flexing of that surface. However, with theunique shape and arrangement of the present invention this resistance isalmost nil.

From the above description of the structure, assembly, and operation itcan be seen that I have invented a unique package which is composed ofthe least number of parts, is easy to assemble, and functionsdifferently than any prior package of its type. Further, its novelstructure not only contributes to its function but has an aestheticappeal hereto-fore unmatched by conventional bubble-type packages.

Having described my invention, it should be equally obvious thatalthough I have shown preferred and embodiments, many othermodifications thereof are prob- 3 able and should be included as fallingwithin the spirit and scope of this invention unless the appended claimsstate otherwise.

I claim:

1. A display package comprising an elongated base having opposite endportions; said base being flexible along a dimension extending betweensaid end portions; a flexible housing located over said base and havinga top extending between the ends of said base and tapered downwardlyfrom its intermediate portion to the ends of the base Where it isattached thereto; said housing top in plan view having marginal sideedges forming a narrow intermediate portion fanning outwardly to widerend portions corresponding in shape to said base; and side wallsdepending from the marginal side edges of said top to said base andbeing free from said base permitting flexing of said base and saidhousing along said dimension in a direction away from each other therebyproviding access to articles in said housing.

2. The device of claim 1 in which the housing is transparent.

3. The device of claim 1 in which the housing and base in plan view arecongruent.

4. A display package comprising an elongated base having opposite endportions; said base being flexible along a dimension extending betweensaid end portions; a flexible housing located over said base and havinga top extending between the ends of said base and tapered downwardlyfrom its intermediate portion to the ends of the base where it isattached thereto; said housing top in plan view having marginal arcuateside edges forming a narrow intermediate portion fanning outwardly towider end portions corresponding in shape to said base; and side wallsdepending from the marginal side edges of said top to said base andbeing free from said base permitting flexing of said base and saidhousing along said dimension in a direction away from each other therebyproviding access to articles in said housing.

5. The device of claim 4 in which the housing and base in plan view arecongruent.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,024,813 Wordingham Apr. 30, 1912 2,026,626 Gilfillan Jan. 7, 19362,085,728 Clark July 6, 1937 2,388,221 Smith Oct. 30, 1945 2,661,891Arranga Dec. 8, 1953 2,695,646 Van Wyk Nov. 30, 1954 2,878,985 RossumMar. 24, 1959 2,980,245 Stoker Apr. 18, 1961

1. A DISPLAY PACKAGE COMPRISING AN ELONGATED BASE HAVING OPPOSITE END PORTIONS; SAID BASE BEING FLEXIBLE ALONG A DIMENSION EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID END PORTIONS; A FLEXIBLE HOUSING LOCATED OVER SAID BASE AND HAVING A TOP EXTENDING BETWEEN THE ENDS OF SAID BASE AND TAPERED DOWNWARDLY FROM ITS INTERMEDIATE PORTION TO THE ENDS OF THE BASE WHERE IT IS ATTACHED THERETO; SAID HOUSING TOP IN PLAN VIEW HAVING MARGINAL SIDE EDGES FORMING A NARROW INTERMEDIATE PORTION FANNING OUTWARDLY TO WIDER END PORTIONS CORRESPONDING IN SHAPE TO SAID BASE; AND SIDE WALLS DEPENDING FROM THE MARGINAL SIDE EDGES OF SAID TOP TO SAID BASE AND BEING FREE FROM SAID BASE PERMITTING FLEXING OF SAID BASE AND SAID HOUSING ALONG SAID DIMENSION IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM EACH OTHER THEREBY PROVIDING ACCESS TO ARTICLES IN SAID HOUSING. 